Maxeys 5K next race in Firefly Trail series

Anne Garner had an idea after moving from metro Atlanta to about 5 miles south of Maxeys about six years ago.

She noticed few race opportunities in Oglethorpe County and wanted to start one.

Garner reached out to Carol Black, co-owner of Classic Race Services, who works with charities and nonprofits to put on 5K and 10K races. 

During their conversation, it was Black’s time to have an idea.

“We were meeting about the Maxeys race, and it was going to take place on the proposed Firefly Trail at that location, and it occurred to me that I had three other races that were already on the proposed trail,” Black said. “So, why don’t we do a series, and that’s how it was kind of born.”

The Maxeys Model Mile 5K, the second of the four races that make up the Firefly Trail Race Series, is scheduled for Saturday, May 18. The first race — the Winterville Snowflake 10K — was held in January. The other two — Crawford Restoration Run 5K and Union Point Junction Jamboree Jog 5K — both take place in September. 

Before Black’s three races became a series, the Maxeys race was given a year to establish itself. 

A year later and the race series was born.

During the creation of the Maxeys race, Black introduced Garner to John Kissane, the Firefly Trail’s development coordinator. 

Kissane bought in, and the three have worked together on the race series ever since, with Kissane serving as the middleman between Black and Garner and the Firefly Trail.

“I’m also a runner, so I knew Carol from decades ago, and the idea of having this race series really appealed to me,” Kissane said.

The three noted challenges they’ve faced in running the series. That includes promoting the race, finding interested racers, expansion of the series and trail, and finding sponsors. 

“It's always a challenge,” Black said.

The three appreciate the opportunity to work with what Black called “such a supportive group.” Kissane said it would have been impossible for one person to pull off.

“There is a sense of accomplishment that we pulled something together,” Garner said.

With Athens so close, the trio noted that expansion would likely head there, specifically in East Athens. While the group would like to expand in Oglethorpe County, there is one road block.

“The trail needs to be completed all the way through Oglethorpe County in order for it to be a continuous trail from the start point to the end point,” Black said. “Do we want to expand in Oglethorpe? That’s always a possibility. There are a couple of spots in Oglethorpe that would make sense to add a race, and we’re always looking at possibly expanding the race series. We don’t have enough solid decisions made to say anything real about that.”